david j



(No Model!) 3 Sheets-Shet 1.

D. J. DAVIDSON.

ADJUSTABLE GUT-OFF SEPARATOR AND GRADER. No. 545,581. Patented Sept. 3,1895.

WITNESSES 3 N O S D I V A D J D ADJUSTABLE GUT-OFF SEPARATOR AND GRADER.

N0. 545,581. Patented Sept. 3,1895.

'avu/ WITWESSES 7-7 (No Model.) 3 SheetsShe et 3.

D. J. DAVIDSON. ADJUSTABLE GUT-OFF SEPARATOR AND GRADBR.

No. 545,581 Patented Sept. s, 1895.

WITJVE'SSES l/W E/VTM? 696W zrwuyiaamazam B) 5 4 fliiorney used. I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

DAVID J. DAVIDSON, OF PORT HURON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE DAVID- SON, MARTIN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ADJUSTABLE CUT-OFF SEPARATOR AND GRADER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 545,581, dated September a, 1895..

Application filed October 16, 1894- $erial No. 526,100. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID J. DAVIDSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Port Huron, county of St. Clair, State ofMichigan,

have invented a 'certainnew anduseful Imadjustable cut-off separator and. grader ofsuperior utility and efficiency; and it consists of the construction, combination, and arrange ment of devices and appliances hereinafter specified and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in perspective embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of'the screen-frames and screen attachedthereto. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section on the line 4 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section on the line 5 5, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a view in perspective illustrating in detail the construction and operation of the ported slides.

The purpose of my invention is to provide an adjustable cut-0E separator and grader provided with a screen, whereby any desired grade of grain, flour, or other commodity may be readily cut off, or by which impurities may be separated therefrom at any desired point without the aid of conveyors ordinarily Referring to the drawings, A represents any suitable supporting-frame. Thisframe is preferably made with supporting-legs A, bearing at their upper ends the main rectangular frame, having end pieces A A and side pieces A A Supported within said frame A is an agitable frame B, which may be constructed of longitudinal side walls B B and lar number, as my invention contemplates theuse of one or more screen-frames. In small-sized machines a single frame will serve every purpose; but for larger machines I prefer to employ more than one frame simply as a matter of convenience, the one frame being located longitudinally adjacent to the other and practically constituting a single screen-frame.

C denotes any suitable screen fabric engaged with the screen frame or framesas, for example, silk, wire-netting,or other analogous material commonly used for screening purposes-the fabric employed depending upon the use for which the machine is applied. The screen frame or frames is made removable, so that any other framemay readily be substituted-in its place when the machine is desired to be used for different purposes. The agitating frame B may be provided with supports b upon which the screen-frames may rest, although the screen-frames may be held in position in the agitable frame in any suitable manner. .The screen has such an engagement with the agitable frame as to be simultaneously agitated therewith and in the 7 same direction as the agitable frame. As so arranged, the agitating mechanism may only be engaged with the agitable frame.

Any suitable means may be employed for agitating the frame B. Thus,'for example,D represents a rotatable shaft, upon which are mounted eccentrics D, preferably one eccentric toward each end of the shaft D.

D denptes the pitman engaged with the frame B in any suitable manner. Beneath the screen the frame Bis provided with a series of inverted V-shaped partitions E, extending longitudinally of the machine, separating the base of the agitable frame into a series of longitudinal troughs therebetween.

F denotes a series of transverse slides each provided with a series of ports f therein, said 7 slides being located beneath the V-shaped ways F, in which said slides have a movable engagement. It will be apparent that by drawing out and thereby opening the ports of any given slide a separation may be effected thereat throughout the whole series of troughs. By this means any desired separations can be made at any point by opening any desired slide of the series.

Beneath the slidesI locate a corresponding series of transverse discharge-ducts G constructed on an incline and discharging the commodity therein at the side of the machine. Thus provision is made for cutting off and making a separation at any desired point simply by opening the required slide. The screen above said troughs is preferably shortened longitudinally at the rear end of the machine, so that any commodity passed over the rear end of the screen will fall into the rear discharge-duct.

II denotes a feed-hopper, preferably constructed at its base with cant-boards 11 H from the adjacent ends of which rises awing 1'1 hinged at its base to the ridge of said cant-boards, as shown at h. The feed-hopper is formed with an inlet-orifice h and the cant boards direct the entering stock in opposite directions to the two sides of the macrating-handle H on the exterior of the feedchine, the feed-hopper being provided with discharge-orifices TIP-and 72.3. The stock falls from the discharge-orifices into receivingtrough J therebeneath, the receiving-trough being constructed as a part of or integral with the agitable frame B, and is agitated with the agitable frame. The stock is distributed over the rear edge of the receiving-trough upon the underlying end of the screen, as

illustrated in Fig. 2, the forward end of the screen projecting under said troughs. Beneath the forward end of the screen is'formed a slant-board K, directing any products discharged through the forward end of the screen upon the troughs formed by the V- shaped partitions.

To prevent the screen from clogging any suitable means may be employed. The means herewith shown consists of a bell-crank L, having a jointed connection, as shown at- Z, upon a bracket 1', engaged upon a transverse bar L of the frame B.

L denotes an arm rising from the bar L, connected by a spring L with one arm of the bell-crank to soften the stroke thereof. One arm of the bell-crank is provided with a hammer Z which may be cushioned in any desired manner. The opposite end is engaged between adjustable brackets Z engaged upon a central longitudinal bar 0 of the adjacent screenframe. The bracket Z may be adj usted so as to give any desired stroke to the hammer on the bell-crank. By this construction it will be perceived as the agitable screen is vibrated in one direction the hammer of the bell-crank will be lifted and will fall upon the screen-frame with a gentle blow as it is vibrated in the opposite direction. Any desired number of these bell-cranks and desired.

I prefer to support the agitable frame B upon a series of jointed rods M, engaged with the main frame, as shown more particularly in Fig. 5. The rod M is shown jointed at m, the upper end of said rod being passed through the main frame and provided at its upper end with a thumb-nut m, by which the rod, and consequently the agitable frame, may be adjusted vertically, as may be required.

M denotes a bracket engaged with one of theside walls B of the frame B, with which the lower end of the jointed rod M is engaged. The frame B is so adjusted as to be on an incline, and may readily be adjusted to any desired incline by means of the thumb-nuts m.

Engaged with the side walls of the main :frame are adjustable follow-boards N, pro- ,vided with elongated slots 11, through which screws '11. engage the follow-boards with the main frame. The follow-boards may thus be adjusted to fit down upon the sides of the frame B, whatever incline may be given to the frame B, so as not to leave any open space between the side walls of the frame B and the follow-boards.

The wing H may be provided with an ophopper, whereby said wing may be adjusted as may be required to throw the desired amount of stock to the two sides of the machine. I

P denotes a cover over the frame B. The main frame may be provided with cover-supporting strips P.

The operation of the device will be readily understood. Whenever it is desired to make a separation, the corresponding slide is opened and the separated product falls into the discharge-duct directly underneath the said slide. Thus I am enabled to make one or as many separations as may be desired. The frame B,

carrying the V-shaped partitions, the ported separating and grading mill-stock-as in the manufacture of flour, for example.

In order to more effectually vibrate the sieve or screen framesI prefer to place springs or other elastic substance-as rubber, for examp1ennderneath said frame, as indicated at Q, upon which said frames partially rest.

By employing the longitudinal V-shaped partitions hereinbefore described I am enabled to so far control the movement of the slide governing the successive cut-offs as not {I to require the full removal of said slide crosswise of the frame, but only need to move them far enough to bring the openings in the slides to register with the longitudinal troughs formed by said partitions.

It will be observed that no conveyers or cant-boards as are. ordinarily used are here employed.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a cut ofi separator and grader, a screen, a bottom located beneath said screen provided with a series of longitudinal inverted V-shaped partitions separating said bottom into a series of longitudinal troughs, transverseported slides to open the bottom of said troughs at any desired point, discharge ducts arranged beneath each of said ported slides, said bottom and said screen simultaneously agitable in the same direction, substantially as set forth.

2. In a out OK separator and grader, the combination of a screen, a bottom located therebeneath, means for vibrating said bottom and screen in the sam'e direction,aseries of longitudinal inverted V-shaped partitions secured to the upper side of said bottom parallel to eachother and separating said bottom into a series of longitudinal troughs, a series of transverse ported slides adapted to'open the bottom of all of said troughs at any desired point, and inclined discharge ducts se-, cured to the bottom beneath'each of said slides, substantially as set forth.

3. In a cut off separator and grader, an agitable frame B, a screen located therein, a bottom located at the base of said frame beneath said screen provided with a series of longi- I tudinal inverted V-shaped partitions separating said bottom into a series of longitudinal troughs, a series of transverse ported slides to open the bottom of said troughs, a discharge duct arranged beneath each of said slides, and means for agitating said frame,

substantially as set forth.

4. In a cut off separator and grader, an agitable frame B, a screen located therein, a bottom located at the base of said frame beneath said screen provided with a series of longitudinalinverted V -shaped partitions separating said bottom into a series of longitudinal troughs, a series of transverse ported slides to open the bottom of said troughs, a discharge duct arranged beneath each of said slides, and means for agitating said frame, said agitable frame made vertically adjustable, substantally as set forth.

5. In a cut off separator and grader, the combination of a supporting frame A, an agitable frameB, a screen engaged with the agitable frame and means to vertically adjust the agitable frame, adj ustable follow boards, said agitable frame having a bottom located beneath said screen-provided with a series of 

